Officers Were Not Hidden From Australian Reporters

Dubrovnik police chief denied claims concerning the two police officers on photo fits.

DUBROVNIK, CROATIA – Zlatko Sokolar, Dubrovnik-Neretva police chief, denied claims of the Vecernji list daily, concerning two police officers Ivan Elez and Sladjan Dodik. The paper wrote that the police officers identified according to the photo fits of violators were linked with the death of Australian backpacker Britt Lapthorne and kidnapping attempt of three more foreign tourists.

Dubrovnik Police Investigating Wrong Officers

Sokolar claims that the drawings have nothing to do with the case of late Britt Lapthorne and that

We claim with conviction that the police officers from the headline are not persons from showed photo fits. It should be reiterated that these drawings have nothing to do with the case of late Britt Lapthorne and are not linked with any of the reported felonies under the jurisdiction of this police department or the Republic of Croatia.

Zlatko Sokolar

Furthermore, the Vecernji list daily guesses that Elez and Dodik were relocated to another police station when the documentary on the death of Britt Lapthorne was being filmed in Dubrovnik, so that they could be hidden from the cameras.

- The transfer of mentioned employees has nothing to do with the arrival of these reporters, or any other event, apart from intensifying measures when it comes to fighting narcotics. We point out that officers Dragan Palameta and Ivica Rudinovic actively took part in fighting crimes dealing with narcotics, who were subject to media and other pressures, together with their families, without any foundations, while other police officials have now been subject to the unprofessional approach of certain reporters – Sokolar denied the claims of the Vecernji list daily.

The police chief looked thanked the citizens who helped the police by providing technical means and equipment, necessary to again examine the bottom of the sea, where Britt Lapthorne`s body was found.

Sokolar pointed out that Dubrovnik police was taking further steps in looking into the young backpacker`s death, I co-operation with the Croatian Interior Ministry, Federal Australian police and police departments of other countries.